An Alderley Edge restaurant has applied to install an external sitting area on the pavement of London Road along with ramped access.
Access to Yara restaurant is currently via steps at the front of the property, preventing easy access for wheelchair users and ambulant disabled people. The plan is to raise the level of the pavement outside 29, London Road to the level of the restaurant enabling level access with ramped access from pavement level into the restaurant. The proposed scheme will be DDA compliant.
According to the design and access statement, in order to reduce the visual impact on the street scene and the property itself, the balustrading around the seating area is to be made of glass enabling views through the space.
In 2011 Yara built an outdoor seating area on the public highway without obtaining permission from Cheshire East Council.
In December 2012 CEC's Highways team removed the decking and seating areas from both Yara and Konak (pictured above) because they considered them to be an obstruction of the highway, contrary to the Highways Act 1980, and built without their permission. Unlike some restaurants in the village, they do not own the area outside their premises.
The planning application can be viewed on the Cheshire East Council website by searching for planning reference 14/0394M.
Comments
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I can only imagine how the designers of last years 'outside seating area' will surprise us with a new material added to their palette.
I'm all in favour of outside seating / decking areas when there is available space and won't infringe on the flow of pedestrians walking past, such as other areas higher up London Road.
However, there just isn't the wide pavement areas outside Yara and Konak.
Any result other than a refusal of this request would be a travesty!
Their submission should be thrown out immediately.